The question (in reference to the previous Isaiah Paragraph, yesterday’s Lesson) is “How?”
How is God going to bring “Light” to His dark Land?
How is God going to break the “Yoke” of the oppressor, the enemy of Israel?
How, in fact, is God going to bring “Salvation” (or at least offer it) to the whole world?
(If need be, re-read Isaiah 9:1-5 please.)
Today’s Text gives the answer to those questions!
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
A beautiful Passage, perfectly balanced!
And, in my heart, all about Jesus!
The Messiah, described so fully … but at least seven centuries before His Coming to earth, before the Incarnation, before the Virgin Birth.
Let me explain …
The “child” is “born,” a clause emphasizing the humanity of Jesus!
The “Son” is “given,” now emphasizing His Deity, His being God! (Jesus as the eternal “Son” of God could have never been “born,” due to His Divinity.)
But Jesus as “child,” can (and was) so born! “That Holy Thing” (Luke 1:35) … a little Baby Boy!
Note the phrase “unto us,” twice given in verse six! Isaiah is including himself! Really, I think he is including you and me as well!
But this child is said to some day be “governor!” A very capable one, carrying the administrative weight of the world on one “shoulder!”
(Yet in Luke chapter 15 … we little “lost” lambs have been found by the good Shepherd and are being taken to Heaven … resting on His “shoulders!” Plural! Twice the strength and care expended on us … as on the governing the entire planet! Luke 15:5 … “And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”)
Wow!
Next Jesus is succinctly labeled with what I suspect are four Couplets!
“Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
That is, if “Wonderful Counsellor” can be considered as a unit. Which, grammatically it can. The Hebrew here suggests that Jesus will be able to solve the “hard” issues of life! As in: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Mighty God” infers He is a Champion! Both physically strong and spiritually Divine, as well as omnipotent! (These majestically combine Power and weakness … again, Deity and humanity.) Just as well say He is “Almighty God ,” reverently.
“Everlasting Father,” the hardest to comprehend, maybe. (Jesus, the Son of God, as Father?) But the Hebrew word for Father is “ab,” which seems to me to elicit thoughts of Romans 8:15, where the Holy Spirit teaches us to call God “ABBA FATHER!”)
And do remember Jesus’ Words to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Or even John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” (In this sense, He is the Father! Besides, we cannot split or subdivide the Godhead! Our God is ONE, but displays Himself triunely.) Plus, Jesus is our perpetual Saviour, eternal.
Then “Prince of Peace,” maybe the culmination of the first three Offices! (Not “King” here, but the youthful “Prince!” And perhaps so called because most of the “Kings” of Isaiah’s day were radically corrupt! But not Jesus, the Righteous One!) Psalm 110:3 prophesying of Jesus, “Thou hast the dew of thy youth.”) Everlastingly a “Prince!”
Then “Peace,” in Hebrew “shalom!” Not a Prince of war or frustration or disharmony. No, but finally … peace will have come to earth.
Remember the Nativity angels? “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14
I must close.
But verse 7 is shouting, include me! “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
“No end!”
We often (and correctly) say “a thousand years,” (the Millennium) … but in truth Jesus will reign forevermore! (New Heavens, New Earth, New Jerusalem! “And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5)
“Judgment” and “Justice,” another balanced duo. The first showing integrity vertically, the second exercising integrity horizontally!
Jesus is after all, the Greater Son of David! (Matthew 1:1 … “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”)
It is only right that our Lord occupy the Throne of that man (David) who loved Him so dearly. Who was such an example of God’s marvelous Grace! To whom God promised … “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” 2 Samuel 7:16)
Amen!
Then lastly … God’s “zeal” (in Hebrew “qinah”) is God’s Holy Jealousy to see that all His Promises are fulfilled! THESE JESUS THINGS WILL HAPPEN, GOD HAS SO RESOLVED! FERVENTLY … (ZEALOUSLY) FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE!
What a Text this morning!
All about Jesus!
And this near Christmas, too!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Written Tuesday Moring, December 18, 2018